London boroughs set to seek judicial review over fire station cuts

Eight London boroughs led by Islington Council are to seek a judicial review of the Mayor of London’s plans to close ten fire stations, should a last-ditch appeal to the Communities Secretary fail.

In a letter to Eric Pickles, issued today, the local authorities have urged the minister to use his power to direct Boris Johnson to revoke a direction that they claimed was inconsistent with the Fire and Rescue National Framework.

The councils behind the action are: Camden; Greenwich; Hackney; Islington; Lewisham; Southwark; Tower Hamlets; and Waltham Forest.

The claim that the decision by the Mayor, who has devolved responsibility for London’s fire brigade:

• ignored the fire risks posed by potential terrorist targets and a concentration of tourist attractions as well as social and student housing in the affected boroughs;
• ignored the challenges of fighting fires in high rise buildings; and, as a result
• would create disproportionate public safety risks in certain boroughs.

Cllr Paul Convery, executive member for community safety for Islington Council, said: "We are standing together on behalf of our communities, and believe these cuts will make many of our residents less safe.  

"We believe the Mayor's decision is flawed and will do everything in our power to stop these fire stations from closing, and to stop fire engines from being lost."

According to the councils, the closure of the fire stations would lead to the loss of 14 fire engines and 552 operational posts.

The 10 stations affected by the Mayor’s plans are: Belsize in Camden, Bow in Tower Hamlets, Clerkenwell in Islington, Downham in Lewisham, Kingsland in Hackney, Knightsbridge in Kensington and Chelsea, Silvertown in Newham, Southwark, Westminster, and Woolwich in Greenwich. Waltham Forest meanwhile would lose three fire appliances under the cuts.

A spokesman for the Department for Communities and Local Government said: “Decisions about stations are a local matter.”

The Mayor said: “The safety of Londoners is paramount and the measures introduced in this plan ensure that more boroughs across the city are brought within the Brigade’s target response times.

“We need to move forward to face the challenges of 21st century fire-fighting, and it is vital we ensure that London’s Fire Service is financially stable. I trust the professional judgement of the Fire Commissioner, a fire-fighter with over 20 years of experience, who has proposed this plan to ensure a balanced budget and avoid compulsory redundancies, whilst keeping London safe.”